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From Scottish Vacant and Derelict Land Survey 2025 published yesterday, the above and:
Total land – The amount of derelict and urban vacant land fell by 3% (267 hectares) from 8,858 hectares in 2024 to in 8,591 hectares in 2025. This continued the downward trend. The amount has fallen by more than a fifth (22%) since 2019.
Previous uses – More than a fifth (22% or 1,793 hectares) of derelict land had previously been used for manufacturing followed by mineral activity (22% or 1,775 hectares).
Sites reused for housing – More sites were brought back into use for residential purposes than any other use (49 of the 144 reused sites).
Location relative to deprivation – Glasgow City had more sites (48%) located in the 15% most deprived data zones than any other local authority.
Full report at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-vacant-and-derelict-land-survey-2025/
How does this compare with the last 7 years of the Labour/Lib Dem government?
By contrast, the comparable 7-year window ending in 2007 (2000–2007) showed no net reduction. Official historical totals were 11,044 ha in 2000 and 11,379 ha in 2007—a net increase of 335 ha (about +3%). https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-vacant-derelict-land-survey-2015/pages/12/
England?
The nearest official product is the Brownfield Land Registers: previously developed land that local planning authorities judge suitable for housing. Analyses of those registers (CPRE and others) show the recorded area rising after 2019, not falling — typically from around 26,000 ha in 2019 to the high 29,000s or low 32,000s ha by 2024, depending on the compilation year. https://www.locarla.com/open_pdf/453273
What might explain these differences?
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The Vacant and Derelict Land Taskforce (Scottish Land Commission and SEPA, 2018–2020) framed reuse as a national priority and fed into later programmes. https://www.gov.scot/news/transforming-vacant-and-derelict-land/
The Vacant and Derelict Land Investment Programme (VDLIP) was announced in December 2020 as a £50 million, five-year capital fund aimed at persistent sites, greenspace, community-led projects and low-carbon reuse. Allocations have continued into 2025–26. https://www.gov.scot/news/transforming-vacant-and-derelict-land/
The older Vacant and Derelict Land Fund (VDLF) has run since 2005/06, under Labour, and goes to a small number of high-stock, high-deprivation councils like Glasgow City. Official statistics attribute only a cumulative 468 hectares to VDLF since 2005 — including just 0.1 hectares in 2025 and 2 hectares in 2024. That is far smaller than the 2,335-hectare fall since 2019. https://www.gov.scot/news/transforming-vacant-and-derelict-land/
The later SNP Government initiatives have clearly been more effective that that developed by Labour/Lib Dumbs.
Back to the Herald seriously into this back in 2025, have they covered this? Nope
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On the subject of land, and your previous article on ‘fee paying’ schools, I often wonder about the large amounts of land they occupy. For example in Edinburgh at least two of these facilities not only occupy the land for their schools, they have massive swathes of land for playing fields and sports halls, etc. How did they aquire that land? It would be prime real estate and/or perfect for crucial social housing for the people of the city. Walk past that empty sports faciity land and well, rarely see it being used.
Also as these ‘schools’ have charitable status, (even now?) they can access charity hand outs! One near us had a huge state of the art brand new spanking sports hall built, with 100% lottery money! I mean talk about privilege and money going to the wrong hands…
So did they buy the land or just take it??? Who did it belong to anyway?
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If you go back far enough, say middle to early modern period, it was all taken by the powerful.
John
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Plenty of land in Scotland. Land is tax free. To keep farms together. A majority of farmers are over 60 years. When they die new people will take over. Majority of land owned by a few people. Inherited or wealthy. In England land owned by hedge and pension funds.
Scotland is one of the least densely populated countries in the world. UK Gov policy cleared Scotland out. Migration. Treaty of Union. Unfair. Scotland not treated equally. Jacobite Rebellion. 1715, 1745. Clearances. £10 passage. Higher unemployment. Migration to Australia, Canada, US and New Zealand.
Scotland population 5 million 1900 and before. Dipped 1950’s (war)Only rose 1/2 million since Devolution 2000.
Alexander 111 dies. Edward 1. Imposed taxes and conscription for his wars in France. People in Scotland revolted. William Wallace. Bruce.
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